Items | Arthurs Pass and Southern Alps Day Excursion from Port Lyttelton or Christchurch
Arthurs Pass and Southern Alps Day Excursion from Port Lyttelton or Christchurch
(1) Reviews
Important Information
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Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
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Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
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Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
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If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
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This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
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Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
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This day excursion takes us across the Canterbury Plains around 50 miles to Porters Pass (just under 1000 m and higher than Arthurs Pass) and into the Southern Alps. Mountain lakes and wide braided rivers pass through ancient glacial valleys. After about 2.5 hours we reach Arthurs Pass National Park and its beech forests. We drive to the top of the pass and divide looking over into the rainforests of the West Coast, then stop in AP village here for lunch.Time permitting we have a quick tour of Christchurch on the return trip and a short stroll at Castle Hill.
Highlights
7 hours
Offered in English
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
7 hours
Offered in English
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
What's Included
Private transportation
Air-conditioned vehicle
Lunch
Coffee and/or Tea
Arthurs Pass and Southern Alps Day Excursion from Port Lyttelton or Christchurch
(1) Reviews
About
This day excursion takes us across the Canterbury Plains around 50 miles to Porters Pass (just under 1000 m and higher than Arthurs Pass) and into the Southern Alps. Mountain lakes and wide braided rivers pass through ancient glacial valleys. After about 2.5 hours we reach Arthurs Pass National Park and its beech forests. We drive to the top of the pass and divide looking over into the rainforests of the West Coast, then stop in AP village here for lunch.Time permitting we have a quick tour of Christchurch on the return trip and a short stroll at Castle Hill.
Highlights
7 hours
Offered in English
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
7 hours
Offered in English
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
What's Included
Private transportation
Air-conditioned vehicle
Lunch
Coffee and/or Tea
Itinerary
1
Arthur's Pass National Park Visitor Centre
A centre giving information on the geology, flora and fauna of Arthurs Pass, as well as a souvenir shop
15 minutes
2
Christchurch Cathedral
Photo stop
15 minutes
3
Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Large trees from all over the world and well-maintained gardens....we can stop if time permits. The Arts Centre and Great Hall are also here and worth a visit (Gothic Architecture).
4
Castle Hill
Option to take a stroll in this amazing scenery.....an ancient seafloor that is now giant limestone cliffs and rocks in the middle of the Southern Alps. Ancient giant sharks teeth have been found fossillised in these rocks and Narnia : The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe was filmed across the road. The path is gentle and takes you into a very photogenic land which has been appreciated back into history since the gentle Waitaha people used it as a spiritual centre. Today you may see climbers from across the world making their way up or around these fascinating structures.
1 hour
5
Arthur's Pass Chapel
Behind this lovely small mountain chapel is the beech forest which covers most of the Southern Alps. A walk of a few minutes takes you to a small bridge and beautiful stream of clear mountain water flowing over a waterfall.
15 minutes
6
Arthur's Pass National Park
Take a photo by an imposing stone sign which signifies the start of Arthur's Pass National Pass....the route through here was opened up in the mid 1860's as gold was found on the West Coast and a road was hurriedly built in a year to connect east and west.
15 minutes
7
Bealey Hotel
See a statue of the Giant Moa, the tallest bird to live on earth and hear the story of Paddy Freeny and its possible rediscovery in the 1980's.
15 minutes
8
Cave Stream Scenic Reserve
Enjoy the limestone of this area....a stream flows under the road at great depth and takes about an hour to go through....but not on this trip.
9
Canterbury Region
Traverse the Canterbury Plains from east to west from Christchurch to the skifields of the Cragieburn Range and into the Southern Alps . This fertile plain is one of the most productive on earth boasting world record yields of wheat and barley. This agricultural powerhouse also produces large amounts of the world's seed and provides potatoes, onions, wine, dairy products, animal feed, sheep etc.
Look for the Waimakariri River ...a classic braided river connecting the mountain icefields to the Pacific Ocean.
